Chapter 14 - The Choice Serafina Never Expected
Serafina found Dorian outside the cemetery gates.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
She showed him the document.
“I've never seen this.”
“I believe you.”
That surprised him.
The document revealed that Salvatore had investigated Dorian years before his death.
Not because Dorian was powerful.
Because Salvatore had noticed the young courier who unknowingly delivered the poison.
Dorian had returned to the estate afterward.
He had suspected something was wrong.
He had called emergency services anonymously.
That call had brought paramedics close enough to frighten Voss away before he could destroy evidence.
Salvatore had learned Dorian's name.
At the bottom of the report he had written:
Young man acted without promise of reward. Watch him.
Serafina looked at Dorian.
“My father knew you existed.”
“Apparently.”
“He didn't arrange us.”
“No.”
That mattered.
Their love had been theirs.
So had their failure.
Nothing in Salvatore's schemes could take responsibility for either.
Weeks passed.
Marcus accepted a plea agreement and provided evidence against Voss's remaining network.
Rosa faced trial.
Julian did too.
Vivian entered a protection program after testifying.
Before leaving, she met Serafina once.
“I owe you an apology.”
“Yes.”
Vivian blinked.
Serafina smiled faintly.
“You were expecting me to make that easier?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Vivian nodded.
“I am sorry.”
Serafina believed her.
Forgiveness would take longer.
But hatred was no longer necessary.
Elena stayed.
For the first time, Serafina had a sister.
They argued almost immediately over coffee.
It felt strangely wonderful.
Nikolai began transferring control of legitimate Moretti businesses into transparent corporate structures.
The criminal operations were dismantled.
Some men objected.
They were given two choices.
Become legitimate.
Or leave.
Most discovered that legal money was still money.
Dorian recovered.
He never called Serafina unless necessary.
Never appeared at her home.
Never sent flowers.
Never asked for another chance.
He did something more difficult.
He changed without making her responsible for watching.
Six months later, Serafina attended a charity gala.
Not the Moretti gala.
Her gala.
The foundation funded families harmed by organized crime and coercive business practices.
Serafina wore emerald green.
Nikolai wore ivory.
Elena wore black.
Across the ballroom, Serafina saw Dorian.
He had been invited because Vale Strategic Holdings had donated several properties to the foundation.
He didn't approach.
Eventually she did.
“You're avoiding me.”
He smiled.
“I was told boundaries are attractive.”
“Who told you that?”
“My therapist.”
Serafina blinked.
“You have a therapist?”
“Terrifying man. Asks questions.”
She laughed.
It surprised both of them.
Dorian's expression softened.
“I missed that.”
Her smile disappeared slightly.
He corrected himself.
“Sorry.”
“No.”
She looked around.
“You can say it.”
He nodded.
“I missed you.”
Serafina took a breath.
“I missed you too.”
He didn't turn that into an invitation.
That mattered.
“Dorian.”
“Yes?”
“I haven't forgiven everything.”
“I know.”
“I don't know if I ever will.”
“I know.”
“And if anything happens between us, it won't be because you got shot for me.”
“That's disappointing. I thought the scar had considerable romantic value.”
She almost laughed again.
Then became serious.
“We would start at zero.”
Dorian looked at her.
“Zero?”
“No marriage. No penthouse. No assumptions. No ownership.”
“A first date.”
“Maybe.”
Hope appeared in his eyes.
Restrained.
Careful.
“Coffee?”
“That's not a date.”
“Excellent. Lower stakes.”
“Tomorrow.”
“What time?”
“Seven.”
“I'll be there.”
Serafina walked away.
At the ballroom doors, Elena waited.
“You asked him out.”
“For coffee.”
“You asked your ex-husband out.”
“Do you want me to reconsider?”
“No.”
Elena grinned.
“I want details.”
Serafina rolled her eyes.
Then Nikolai approached holding an envelope.
His expression erased the humor.
“What?”
“This arrived for you.”
There was no return address.
Serafina opened it.
Inside was an old photograph.
Her father.
Her mother.
Nikolai.
Rosa.
And one unidentified man.
On the back was a date.
The day before Salvatore died.
Beneath it were five handwritten words.
THE LAST DEBT IS YOURS.
Serafina turned the photograph over again.
The unidentified man was wearing a ring.
Dorian had the same ring.
May you like
It had belonged to his father.
And when Serafina looked across the ballroom, Dorian was already staring at the photograph in her hand.
